Combined cap



(No Model.)

P. FRANK.

COMBINED GAP. PILLOW, AND LIFE PRESERVER. No. 419,765.

WQQW "k A TTOR/VE Y8.

.. UNITED STATES :PATENTFFIcE .-3

FRANCOIS FRANK, OF GRASS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,765, dated January 21, 1890.

Application filed August 10, 1889- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANQOIS FRANK, of Grass Valley, in the'county of Nevada and State of California, have invented a new and useful Combined Cap, Pillow, and Life-Preserver, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My'invention relates to an improved airtight bag adapted to be worn as a cap, utilized as a pillow, or employed as a life-preserver, as occasion may require.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will behereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the news.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bag when shaped as a hat. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the bag when extended for use as a life-preserver. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the box with the cap removed, illustrating the arrangement of the tape employed as a belt when the device is used as a life-preserver; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the center of the box, illustrating the construction of the valve for inflating the bag.

In carrying out the invention the bag is constructed of rubber or other suitable flexible water and air proof material, the said bag being preferably made in four sections, namely: an upper circular section A, a lower circular section A, of less diameter than the upper section, and two central gore-sections A uniting the upper and lower sections, the said gore-sections at the sides of the bag being beveled or inclined in opposite directions from the center, as illustrated at 10 in Fig. 2.

Then the bag is to be used as a hat, it is formed in helmet shape, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower section A being intended to fold upward in contact with the upper section A, and the upper and lower walls of the goresections beingfolded one upon the other form the front and rear visors of the hat. In the center of the lower section A an aperture is made,in which an interiorly-threaded socket Serial No. 320,336- (No model.)

threaded cap 12 is screwed, as shown in Fig.

2. In the top section A, which forms the outer crown of the hat, an aperture is produced surrounded by aplate 13, which plate is secured to the material of thebag in any approved manner, and is provided with a central aperture 14, registering with the ap erture in theouter crown of the hat. The

aperture in the'plate 13 is surrounded by an upwardly-extending interiorly-threaded collar 15, a space being made to intervene the walls of the apertures and the contiguous walls of the collar, as illustrated in Fig. 4,

and the said plate is further provided with an annular outwardly-extending flange 16, concentric with and a distance from the collar l5,whereby an annular box having a hori zontal projecting base is provided. A top or cap 18 is fitted over the box around the outer surface of the collar 15, and within the space intervening the collar and the outer walls of the box a spring 19 is coiled, having one end attached to the collar and the other fastened to a flat, thin, yet strong, tape 20, constructed preferably of silk, which tape is normally coiled about the spring by the action thereof, filling the remaining space within the box, the free end of the tape being led out through the slot in the flange 16 or side of the box, as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with a ring 21.

In the aperture of the plate 13 the stem of a valve 22 is introduced, the valve consisting of a threaded disk 23,the stem being attached to the under face, and in the said disk, near the periphery, a series of apertures 24 is produced, while at each side of the center openings 25 are formed to receive a key, whereby the valve may be screwed into the threaded surface of the collar 15 or unscrewed therefrom.

In operation, when it is desired to use the hat as a pillow, the inner crown-section A is drawn outward from the outer crown-section A, whereupon the walls of the gore-sections are separated one from the other, the bag then partaking, essentially, of the contour shown in Fig. 2. Vhen the bag has been thus manipulated, it is flat, and in order to inflate the same with air the valve 22 is screwed upward until the stem leaves the aperture 14 of the plate 13, as shown in Fig. 2, and the op erator by blowing through the aperture readily fills the bag with air, and when filled the valve is screwed down to place. The bag may now be utilized as a pillow or to intervene the body and a support at any point to form a comfortable rest therefor; or the bag may be employed as a life-preserver by drawing out the tape and passin gthe same as a belt around the body. The ring of the tape, if desired, may be held in a fixed position when not in useby being passed over a hook or equivalent retaining device secured to the plate 13. v

a When it is desired to allow the air to escape from the bag and use it as a hat, the lower valve-plate 12 is unscrewed. The opening covered by this valve-plate may be utilized, if desired, as a channel, through which to introduce hot water into the bag to warm the feet or other portions of the body.

Having thus described m y invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A combined cap, pillow, and life-pre server, consisting of an upper and lower eylindrical section, one section being adapted to fold in the other, gore-sections having beveled sides uniting the said cylindrical sections, substantially as shown and described, a valve located in the upper section to admit air, and an escape-valve in the lower section, as and for the purpose specified.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a combined hat, pillow, and life-preserver, consisting of a bag comprising an upper cylindrical section, a lower cylindrical section ca pable of folding within the upper section, gore-sections uniting the. upper and lower cylindrical sections, having the sides beveled from the center in opposite directions, an inlet-valve secured in the walls of the upper section, an escape-valve attached to the walls of the lower section, and a spring-actuated tape surrounding the inlet-valve, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with an essentiallyovalshaped air-tight bag, having the sides at the center extended to be folded for use as a hat, as described, of a mouth-piece attached to the upper end of the bag at its highest point, a box or casin surrounding said mouthpiece, a coiled spring held within the casing,

a tape also coiled in the casing, having one end projecting therefrom and the other end secured to the said spring, substantially as shown and described, whereby when the bag is inflated the tape may be withdrawn and utilized as a belt for tying the bag to the person, as and for the purpose set forth.

FRANQOIS FRANK.

Witnesses:

A. W. STODDARD, J. M. THOMAS. 

